Hurricane strap

ABSTRACT

A hurricane strap for securing at least one horizontal frame element to a vertical frame element includes a flexible metal strap having a first toothed end portion, an oppositely disposed second toothed end portion, and an untoothed middle portion, the teeth of each end portion being adapted to be pressed into a face of a vertical frame element for securing the strap to the vertical frame element. The strap is of sufficient length so that when in place in a working position, a multiplicity of teeth of the first end portion can be pressed into a first face of a vertical frame element, the middle portion can wrap around exposed faces of at least one horizontal frame element, and a multiplicity of teeth of the second end portion can be pressed into a second, oppositely disposed face of the vertical frame element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of applicant's U.S.utility patent application Ser. No. 09/887,579 (filed Jun. 22, 2001),pending.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM SUBMITTED ONCOMPACT DISK

[0003] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] (1) Field of the Invention

[0005] The invention disclosed and claimed herein relates to the fieldof fastening together elements of frame walls used in the constructionof buildings. The invention is particularly well suited to use in theconstruction of wooden frame walls from wooden frame elements—forexample, the wooden frame elements commonly known as two-by-fours.

[0006] (2) Description of the Related Art

[0007] Traditionally, wood frames of walls were made by nailing thevarious frame elements into the desired configuration. Eventually,persons working in the art developed alternative methods of fasteningtogether frame elements by using metal plates that were nailed into theframe elements. These plates represented an improvement over traditionalmethods of fastening by using nails alone, but these nailed platefasteners continued to require significant labor to drive multiple nailsto attach them to the frame elements.

[0008] Eventually, the art developed fastening methods using metalplates having teeth struck therefrom. These methods required the use ofa press for driving the teeth into the frame elements. Fastening devicescomprising a metal sheet or strip having teeth struck therefrom arecommon in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,520 to Jureit; U.S.Pat. No. 3,181,412 to Hill; U.S. Pat. No. 3,305,252 to Jureit; U.S. Pat.No. 4,297,048 to Jureit et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,407 to Palacio etal.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,114 to Rionda et al. disclose variousdevices that include metal plates having teeth struck therefrom. Thedevices are shaped to allow attachment of frame elements in variousconfigurations. Other patents employing toothed connectors include U.S.Pat. No. 4,031,803 to Jureit et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,235 to Reinen;and U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,389 to Farmont. Other fastening devices that maybe of interest include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,742,778 toOlmstead; U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,324 to Boden; U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,128 toAgar; U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,716 to Jalla; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,498,171 toJureit.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,520 to Jureit discloses a web member for useas a structural member in trusses. The member has plate-shaped ends withstruck teeth and a channel-shaped center section. The channel-shapedcenter section provides rigidity so that the web member can be utilizedas a structural member in trusses and other construction.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,407 to Palacio et al. discloses an attachmentmember for use with trusses that is similar to the web member disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,520. The attachment member disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,570,407 includes first and second toothed connecting platesdisposed at opposite ends of an intermediate leg. The intermediate leghas at least one groove extending along its length. The purpose of thegroove is to create a non-flat cross section that provides stiffness tothe web member. The web member must be stiff in order to retain itsshape when it is used for connecting together top and bottom woodenchords of a truss.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is an object of this invention to provide a strap (sometimesreferred to as a “hurricane strap”) for securing horizontal frameelements to vertical frame elements in a wall frame while allowing theuser to avoid labor-intensive nailing of connecting devices. As usedthroughout this application, the term “horizontal frame element” refersto a horizontal structural element of a wall frame that is included inthe wall frame at a particular location. A “horizontal frame element”may be a single beam but is commonly a combination of two or more woodenbeams, which together form the upper or lower structure of a wall frame.

[0012] Applicant's invention allows the user to attach horizontal frameelements to vertical frame elements faster and more easily than by usingconventional fasteners. In addition, the invention provides a strongerattachment than alternative connection methods requiring the use ofnails.

[0013] To achieve these and other advantages and objects, and inaccordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadlydisclosed herein, in one aspect the inventor discloses a hurricanestrap, that is, an apparatus for securing horizontal frame elements tovertical frame elements in a wall frame. The apparatus includes a strapsufficiently flexible to be bent without damage around an exposedhorizontal surface and the vertical surfaces of a horizontal frameelement. Thus, the device has sufficient flexibility to wrap around thebottom or top face and the side faces of a horizontal frame element inits working position in a frame. The strap may be supplied as a flatstrap to be bent into an appropriate shape by the user, or may beconfigured in a squared “U” shape so that it is ready for use with aparticular combination of horizontal and vertical beams. The strap ismade from material sufficiently stiff that the teeth, which preferablyare struck from the body of the device, are capable of penetrating theframe elements when pressed into them. The strap may be made preferablyfrom metal, or from other strong, flexible materials such ashigh-strength plastics or composites. Acceptable materials includes16-gauge, 18-gauge, and 20-gauge steel. The strap is preferablygenerally rectangular in shape.

[0014] A hurricane strap is a flexible strap having a first toothed endportion, an oppositely disposed second toothed end portion, and anuntoothed middle portion. The teeth of each end portion are adapted tobe pressed into a face of a vertical frame element for securing thestrap to the vertical frame element.

[0015] Each end portion has disposed therein a multiplicity of teeth forattaching the device to frame members by pressing the teeth into theframe member. The teeth are preferably struck from the body of the platein conventional fashion and project essentially at right angles from aface of the plate, although other angles can be used. The teeth areadapted for driving into a frame member. U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,520 toJureit discloses one method for creating suitable teeth.

[0016] The strap is of sufficient length so that when in place in aworking position, a multiplicity of teeth of the first end portion canbe pressed into a first face of a vertical frame element, the strap canwrap around exposed faces of at least one horizontal frame element, anda multiplicity of teeth of the second end portion can be pressed into asecond, oppositely disposed face of the vertical frame element. It isnot necessary that all the teeth of each end portion be secured into thevertical frame element in every application; but enough teeth must besecured in the vertical member to obtain the desired fixation andpreferably to comply with applicable building codes and regulations. Thestrap is made in such a length that, when placed into a working positionin a frame, the strap can extend from one face of a vertical framemember, wrap around the exposed faces of any horizontal frame elementsto be attached to the vertical frame element-passing either below alower horizontal frame element (“bottom plate”) or over the top of anupper horizontal frame element (“top plate”)—to the opposite face of thevertical frame element.

[0017] The length of the strap must allow it to extend sufficiently faralong a face of the vertical member to allow enough teeth to be driveninto the vertical frame member to provide adequate holding strength. Thelength required will depend upon the distribution and type of teeth inthe toothed areas, the geometric and mechanical characteristics of theframe elements, and the desired holding strength. A strap of a totallength of about 21 inches, with the length of each toothed end portionrunning about 6 inches of the length of the strap and with the untoothedmiddle portion running about 9.5 inches, is adequate for manyapplications. Preferably the strap is of adequate length to allowfixation that complies with applicable building codes and regulations.

[0018] The strap of a preferred embodiment of the invention isessentially a thin and flat metal strip that has rectangularirregularities (holes) appearing where the teeth have been struck fromthe strap. The thinness and flatness of the metal strip providesflexibility to the strap and allows its use in the manner disclosedherein.

[0019] The channel cross section disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,520and the grooved cross section disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,407 donot provide or allow sufficient flexibility to wrap around frameelements as does the hurricane disclosed herein. Nor would the stiffdevices disclosed in those patents allow a good fit between the fastenerand the horizontal and vertical frame elements that applicant'sinvention is made to secure.

[0020] The hurricane strap is preferably employed to fasten togetherelements of a frame wall. To secure horizontal frame elements to an endof a vertical frame element, the hurricane strap, if applied as a flatstrap, is first bent into a shape that will allow it to pass from oneface of the vertical frame member, wrap around exposed faces of thehorizontal frame elements, and extend to a second, oppositely disposedface of the vertical frame element. The horizontal and vertical frameelements are next assembled in proper relation, and the teeth of eachtoothed end portion of the hurricane strap are then driven, preferablyusing a press, into a sufficient portion of the vertical frame elementto provide adequate holding strength.

[0021] Optionally, applicant's invention takes the form of a system forsecuring horizontal frame elements to vertical frame elements, with thesystem including both the hurricane strap disclosed above and a portabletruss fabrication apparatus as disclosed in applicant's pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/887,579 (filed Jun. 22, 2001), whichapplicant incorporates herein by reference, or any other press suitablefor driving the teeth of the invention into the vertical frame member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The invention will be better understood in view of the followingdescription presented with reference to the accompanying drawings:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a front view of a wall frame constructed in accordancewith the invention;

[0027]FIG. 5 is a left side sectional view of the wall frame depicted inFIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] The inventor now moves to a detailed description of theembodiment of the invention depicted in the drawings, where likereference numerals refer to like parts. In the embodiment depicted inFIGS. 1 through 3, hurricane strap 10 is a thin metal strap, as may beseen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, the top face 13 of the hurricanestrap includes first toothed end portion 12 and second toothed endportion 14, each having a multiplicity of teeth 16 disposed thereon.Preferably, teeth 16 are struck from the hurricane strap 10 in such amanner that they are staggered—that is, the teeth preferably are notaligned in grid-like fashion. The staggering increases the holdingstrength of the hurricane strap. Untoothed middle portion 20 lies on thetop face 13 of the hurricane strap between first toothed end portion 12and second toothed end portion 14. As may be seen in FIGS. 1 through 3,particularly in FIG. 3, the cross section of the hurricane strap shownis rectangular and constant, with the exception of irregularities causedby the holes created when teeth 16 are struck from the plate from whichthe hurricane strap 10 is made.

[0029]FIGS. 4 and 5 disclose an embodiment of the invention in use in awall frame 30. Wall frame 30 comprises of two hurricane straps 10A and10B; vertical frame element 32; and two horizontal frame elements—anupper horizontal element 50 comprising upper top plate 34 and lower topplate 36, and a lower horizontal frame element 52 comprising upperbottom plate 38 and lower bottom plate 40. FIG. 5 is a side sectionalview of the wall frame depicted in FIG. 4. As can be seen in the sideview, teeth 16A of first hurricane strap 10A penetrate a face ofvertical frame element 32 below lower top plate 36. Hurricane strap 10Apenetrates a face 33 of vertical frame element 32, wraps up and over theupper horizontal element 50, wrapping around upper top plate 34 andlower top plate 36, and penetrates, by means of teeth 16B, the oppositeface 35 of vertical frame element 32. As may also be seen in FIG. 5,second hurricane strap 10B secures lower horizontal frame element 52 tovertical frame element 32 in a similar fashion by having teeth engageopposing faces 33 and 35 of vertical frame element 32, wrapping aroundupper bottom plate 38 and lower bottom plate 40, and passing under lowerbottom plate 40 (and thus under lower horizontal frame element 52).

[0030] In the embodiment of the invention in which the invention takesthe form of a system comprising both a hurricane strap and a portablepress for driving the teeth of the hurricane strap into frame elements,the portable press is as disclosed in applicant's earlier U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/887579 (filed Jun. 22, 2001), entitled “portabletruss fabrication apparatus and method.”

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for securing at least one horizontal frameelement to a vertical frame element, comprising: a flexible metal straphaving a first toothed end portion, an oppositely disposed secondtoothed end portion, and an untoothed middle portion, the teeth of eachend portion being adapted to be pressed into a face of a vertical frameelement for securing the strap to the vertical frame element, the straphaving sufficient length so that when in place in a working position, amultiplicity of teeth of the first end portion can be pressed into afirst face of a vertical frame element, the strap can wrap aroundexposed faces of at least one horizontal frame element, and amultiplicity of teeth of the second end portion can be pressed into asecond, oppositely disposed face of the vertical frame element.
 2. Awall frame, comprising: a horizontal frame element secured to a verticalframe element by means of a securing apparatus, the securing apparatuscomprising: a flexible metal strap having a first toothed end portion,an oppositely disposed second toothed end portion, and an untoothedmiddle portion, the teeth of each end portion being adapted to bepressed into a face of a vertical frame element for securing the strapto the vertical frame element, the strap having sufficient length sothat when in place in a working position, a multiplicity of teeth of thefirst end portion can be pressed into a first face of a vertical frameelement, the strap can wrap around exposed faces of at least onehorizontal frame element, and a multiplicity of teeth of the second endportion can be pressed into a second, oppositely disposed face of thevertical frame element.
 3. A system for securing a horizontal frameelement to a vertical frame element in a frame wall, comprising: aflexible metal strap having a first toothed end portion, an oppositelydisposed second toothed end portion, and an untoothed middle portion,the teeth of each end portion being adapted to be pressed into a face ofa vertical frame element for securing the strap to the vertical frameelement, the strap having sufficient length so that when in place in aworking position, a multiplicity of teeth of the first end portion canbe pressed into a first face of a vertical frame element, the strap canwrap around exposed faces of at least one horizontal frame element, anda multiplicity of teeth of the second end portion can be pressed into asecond, oppositely disposed face of the vertical frame element; and apress apparatus comprising: a press yoke defining generally a C-shapehaving a first end portion, a body portion, and a second end portion,the second end portion defining an internally threaded slot forreceiving in connecting engagement an externally threaded portion of ahydraulically actuated press; a first platen positionable at andremovably attachable to the first end portion of the press yoke; ahydraulically actuated press comprising a body and a plunger, the bodyhaving external threads, and the body being connected to the second endportion by screwing the threads of the body into the second end portionwith the plunger passing through the slot of the second end portion; asecond platen, positionable at and removably attachable to an end of theplunger; a pneumatically powered hydraulic pump connected to the pressfor powering the plunger to press the second platen toward the firstplaten, thereby pressing the barbed connector plate into lumber to befabricated, repaired, joined, or spliced.
 4. The system according toclaim 3, wherein the press yoke slot internal threads are sized attwelve threads per inch and extend at least approximately 2¼″ throughthe slot.
 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first platenis rectangular, has dimensions of between approximately 2″ by 4″ andapproximately 8″ by 10″, and is attached to the first end portion bykeying means.
 6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the magnetsare inset into the working side of at least one of the platens to holdthe barbed connector plate on the at least one platen during clamping.7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the press yoke hasapproximately an 8″ yoke and approximately a 4¼″ throat, and is sized todevelop approximately 40,000 pounds or more of pressure with a 3-timessafety factor when used with a 25-ton press and an 8″ by 10″ barbedconnector plate.
 8. The system according to claim 3, wherein the pressyoke has approximately an 8″ yoke and approximately a 4¼″ throat, and issized to develop approximately 20,000 pounds of pressure when used witha 10-ton press and a 4″ by 6″ barbed connector plate.
 9. The systemaccording to claim 3, further comprising: means for positioning andsupporting the press yoke in engagement with a truss, rafter, or otherlumber to be fabricated, repaired, joined, or spliced.
 10. The systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the positioning and supporting apparatuscomprises: a jack stand having means for rolling or sliding the jackstand on a substantially horizontal surface; a jack arm support,connected to the jack stand, the jack arm support having a telescopingsleeve actuatable by a winch-actuated cable and pulley system; awinch-actuated cable and pulley system mounted on or near the jack armsupport for actuating the sleeve; and a jack arm, connected to the jackarm support for receiving the press yoke and positioning and supportingthe press yoke.
 11. A method for securing a horizontal frame element toa vertical frame element of a wall frame, comprising: providing a devicefor securing a horizontal element to a vertical element of a wall frame,comprising: a flexible metal strap having a first toothed end portion,an oppositely disposed second toothed end portion, and an untoothedmiddle portion, the teeth of each end portion being adapted to bepressed into a face of a vertical frame element for securing the strapto the vertical frame element, the strap having sufficient length sothat when in place in a working position, a multiplicity of teeth of thefirst end portion can be pressed into a first face of a vertical frameelement, the middle portion can wrap around exposed faces of at leastone horizontal frame element, and a multiplicity of teeth of the secondend portion can be pressed into a second, oppositely disposed face ofthe vertical frame element. aligning the horizontal frame element andthe vertical frame element in the desired orientation; bending thedevice into a shape so that a multiplicity of teeth of the first endportion can be pressed into a first face of a vertical frame element,the middle portion can wrap around exposed faces of at least onehorizontal frame element, and a multiplicity of teeth of the second endportion can be pressed into a second, oppositely disposed face of thevertical frame element; placing the device in working position; pressingthe teeth of the first toothed end portion of the device into the firstface of the vertical frame element adjacent to the teeth so that amultiplicity of the teeth of the first toothed end portion engage thevertical frame element; pressing the teeth of the second toothed endportion of the device into the second, oppositely disposed face of thevertical frame element adjacent to the teeth so that a multiplicity ofthe teeth from the second toothed end portion engage the vertical frameelement.
 12. A method for securing a horizontal frame element to avertical frame element of a wall frame according to claim 11, wherein atleast one of the pressing steps is accomplished by means of an apparatuscomprising: a press yoke defining generally a C-shape having a first endportion, a body portion, and a second end portion, the second endportion defining an internally threaded slot for receiving in connectingengagement an externally threaded portion of a hydraulically actuatedpress; a first platen positionable at and removably attachable to thefirst end portion of the press yoke; a hydraulically actuated presscomprising a body and a plunger, the body having external threads, andthe body being connected to the second end portion by screwing thethreads of the body into the second end portion with the plunger passingthrough the slot of the second end portion; a second platen, removablyattachable to an end of the plunger; and a pneumatically poweredhydraulic pump connected to the press for powering the plunger to movethe second platen toward the first platen thereby pressing the barbedconnector plate into lumber to be fabricated, repaired, joined, orspliced.
 13. A method for securing a horizontal frame element to avertical frame element of a wall frame according to claim 12, whereinthe pressing operation is performed at the work site where the securedframe elements are to be used.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the first toothed end portion extends a distance of at least sixinches along the first face of the vertical frame element, and thesecond toothed end portion extends a distance of at least six inchesalong the second, oppositely disposed face of the vertical frameelement.